The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the largest in the tournament’s history, with 48 teams competing across an expanded group stage spread over three host nations.
Group G brings together four nations with very different World Cup pedigrees, from tournament regulars to first-time qualifiers chasing a historic run.
For those following the Group G winner market, understanding the form, history and structure of this group is a useful starting point before committing to any selection.
This article covers the World Cup Group G odds, predictions and best bets, with a full breakdown of each team, the fixture schedule and the key match to watch.
Key Group G Information
Group G at a glance:
- Teams: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
- Host cities: Seattle, Los Angeles, Vancouver
- Venues: Lumen Field (Seattle), SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles), BC Place (Vancouver)
- Qualification rule: Top two teams advance automatically; the best third-placed sides across all groups may also progress
- TV and streaming in the UK: BBC iPlayer / ITVX
Group G Overview
Group G is one of the more straightforward groups on paper, with Belgium arriving as heavy favourites and three sides who will each be targeting at minimum a place in the knockout rounds as third-placed qualifiers.
Belgium are appearing at their fifteenth World Cup and are the standout name in this group. Their best finish remains third place at the 2018 tournament in Russia, and they have consistently been among Europe’s strongest sides across the past decade.
Egypt return to the World Cup for the fourth time, with previous appearances in 1934, 1990 and 2018. Iran arrive for their seventh finals, though they have never made it out of the group stage across any of those previous six appearances. New Zealand are back at the tournament for just the third time, following earlier finals in 1982 and 2010.
World Cup 2026 Group G Predictions: Our Verdict
Belgium are the clear selection to win World Cup Group G. At 4/9, the odds reflect their significant advantage in quality over the other three sides, and a qualifying record of five wins and three draws without a single defeat only reinforces that assessment.
The more interesting question for World Cup Group G predictions is which side joins them in the last 16. Egypt qualified from their African group without conceding a single goal across six matches, a defensive record that stands out. At 9/2 to win the group, there is a case that Egypt represent value as a potential group winner if Belgium slip up, but their primary role here is likely as second-place finishers.
Iran at 7/1 and New Zealand at 27/1 are longer shots to emerge from this group. Iran’s qualifying record was less convincing, while New Zealand’s recent form of one win from their last five games makes it difficult to see them troubling the top two.
For World Cup 2026 Group G tips, Belgium to win the group at 4/9 is the headline selection, with Egypt to qualify from Group G as a secondary bet at a more attractive price.
Group G Team Profiles
Belgium
Belgium head into the 2026 World Cup as the group’s clear frontrunners. This is their fifteenth World Cup overall, and their recent qualifying campaign was impressive by any measure. They won five of eight matches, drew three and lost none, scoring 29 goals and conceding just seven across the campaign.
Their best World Cup result remains third place at Russia 2018, and this squad will be motivated to match or improve on that run. Belgium secured top spot in their UEFA qualifying group with a decisive final-day victory, confirming their place at the tournament in convincing fashion.
Belgium’s recent form of three wins and two draws from their last five fixtures suggests they are in good shape heading into the group stage.
Egypt
Egypt are at the World Cup for only the fourth time, and the manner of their qualification was genuinely impressive. They topped their CAF qualifying group with five wins and one draw from six matches, keeping a clean sheet throughout the entire campaign. That is a remarkable defensive record and suggests a well-organised side under pressure.
Their World Cup history, however, is limited. Egypt have never progressed beyond the group stage or first round at any of their three previous finals appearances in 1934, 1990 and 2018. Making the knockout rounds would represent a historic achievement for the nation.
Their recent form of two wins, two draws and one defeat from the last five games is moderate, but their qualifying clean sheet record is the more telling statistic heading into Group G.
Iran
Iran arrive at their seventh World Cup, a significant achievement for a nation that has become a consistent presence in Asian football. They qualified through the AFC route, clinching their place with a draw against Uzbekistan in March 2025 during the third round of Asian qualifying.
Despite their experience at this level, Iran have never made it out of the group stage across any of their previous six World Cup appearances. Their qualifying record for 2026 was modest: two wins, one draw and one defeat from four matches, with seven goals scored and three conceded.
Recent form shows two wins, two draws and one loss from their last five, which mirrors Egypt’s numbers but with a considerably higher group winner price of 7/1. Iran will need to beat New Zealand and take points off one of the stronger sides to have any chance of progressing.
New Zealand
New Zealand have reached the World Cup finals for just the third time, following appearances in 1982 and 2010. Their 2010 run is still fondly remembered, when they went through the group stage unbeaten with three draws, though they did not advance to the knockout rounds.
For 2026, they came through the Oceania pathway and the intercontinental play-off route to claim their spot. Their qualifying results in the final stages were strong on paper, two wins from two with ten goals scored and none conceded. However, recent form tells a different story: one win, one draw and three defeats from their last five matches.
At 27/1, New Zealand are realistically competing for a place in the best third-placed bracket rather than a top-two finish. Their match against Iran shapes up as the most winnable fixture in the group.
Group G Fixtures Schedule
All six Group G matches:
- Belgium vs Egypt – Lumen Field, Seattle
- Iran vs New Zealand – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
- Belgium vs Iran – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
- New Zealand vs Egypt – BC Place, Vancouver
- New Zealand vs Belgium – BC Place, Vancouver
- Egypt vs Iran – fixture venue to be confirmed
Head-To-Head History
One of the defining features of World Cup Group G analysis is how little history exists between these four nations at tournament level. The 2026 World Cup marks the first time all four have been drawn together in the same group, and there is no World Cup head-to-head record between Belgium and Egypt, Belgium and Iran, Belgium and New Zealand, Egypt and Iran, or Egypt and New Zealand.
The only meaningful prior encounters between any of these sides involve Iran and New Zealand, who have met twice before in friendly matches. Iran hold a positive record from those meetings, winning one and drawing one, with an aggregate score of 3-0 in their favour.
For all other pairings, the Group G matches in 2026 will be historic first meetings on the World Cup stage, which adds an element of unpredictability for those assessing World Cup Group G analysis from a form-and-data perspective.
Key Game In Group G
The standout fixture in Group G is Belgium vs Egypt in Seattle. With Belgium expected to win the group and Egypt most likely to occupy second place, a direct meeting between the two sides could effectively decide where each team finishes and which of them carries greater momentum into the knockout stage.
Egypt’s flawless defensive record in qualifying means this is not a formality for Belgium despite the wide gap in odds. If Egypt can frustrate Belgium and take points from the group’s strongest side, it could reshape the standings heading into the final matchday. This is the fixture that World Cup Group G betting tips should be built around.
World Cup 2026 Group G Best Bets
The headline selection for World Cup 2026 Group G best bets is Belgium to win the group. Their qualifying record of five wins and three draws without defeat, combined with 29 goals scored and only seven conceded, puts them comfortably ahead of the other three sides in terms of output and consistency. The best available price is 4/9.
The second selection is Egypt to qualify from Group G, finishing in the top two. Their six-match qualifying campaign without conceding a single goal is difficult to ignore from a defensive standpoint. Even if Belgium prove too strong in their direct meeting, Egypt have the shape and discipline to take second place ahead of Iran and New Zealand. Egypt’s 9/2 odds to win the group also reflect their status as the most credible challenger if Belgium underperform.
Iran at 7/1 are a longer consideration for those looking for a speculative World Cup 2026 Group G each way angle, given their experience at this level across seven World Cup appearances. However, their qualifying record offers less reassurance than Egypt’s, and their recent form does not suggest a side capable of topping this group.
How To Watch And How To Bet On Group G
How To Watch
All Group G matches at the 2026 World Cup will be available to watch in the UK on BBC iPlayer and ITVX, with coverage split between the two broadcasters across the tournament. Check each platform’s schedule for specific fixture listings as the group stage approaches.
How To Bet On Group G
If you are new to outright group winner betting, the following steps cover the basics of placing a World Cup group winner bet.
- Choose a licensed and regulated betting operator
- Create and verify your account if you do not already have one
- Navigate to the football or World Cup 2026 section
- Search for the Group G winner market
- Review the available odds for Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand
- Compare prices across operators to find the best available price
- Select your chosen outcome and enter your stake
- Confirm your bet and keep a record of your selection and odds
Responsible Gambling
Betting should always be approached as a form of entertainment, not as a way to generate income. Set a budget before you start and stick to it, regardless of whether earlier bets have won or lost.
If you feel that betting is having a negative effect on your finances or wellbeing, free support is available. The National Council on Problem Gambling helpline can be reached on 1-800-GAMBLER, and Gamblers Anonymous offers peer support through meetings and online resources.
Most licensed operators provide tools such as deposit limits, self-exclusion options and reality checks. Using these tools is a sensible step for any bettor who wants to keep their betting activity in check over a long tournament like the World Cup.
